Barrack Tents

Planet - Redacted

Outer Rim

Mayday stood from his chair and stretched out; he'd been sitting for several hours going through casualty reports, health reports, logistics reports, every possible report there was, including some he had never heard of and now he needed to move, do anything but look at another report.

They were here to support the 91st after Ponds had been executed and were now waiting for Commander Neyo to take over the Battalion but the fighting had died down, the Seppies had actually left the planet and he was catching up with his flimzi work.

"Caf, that's what I need."

His com pinged.

"Hela?" He opened the link up immediately, "They must have boosted the signal or repaired the relay stations."

He had even started talking to himself.

Comms had been difficult recently. Some relay stations had been taken down by the Seppies but the fighting had ceased. Now he had more time on his hands, he missed her.

"Shab! A recording." He listened, it was distorted and then reverted to static; it had been distorted during transmission and parts were missing, most didn't make sense. He wondered exactly what she wanted to tell him.

He wandered off to get himself a caf and he needed some company.

.

Squad Room

Splicer scrolled through his datapad, struggling to get a signal. He had accessed comms, he knew he shouldn't but was sure he could solve the weak signal problem. He had and now tweaked the settings and finally managed to boost it.

"Looks like some of the relays have been repaired." He muttered to himself.

"What?" Asked Decs, the rookie, leaning over from his bunk.

"Nothing," replied Splicer, "Talkin' to myself."

"First sign of madness." Decs retorted.

Splicer gave him an obscene gesture and returned to his datapad.

Decs sniggered.

Plug, the new medic wanted more information on some new treatments available and Splicer had promised he would try and get a signal boosted for him, even though he was a grumpy bugger and he had only been here with them for a few weeks.

"Yes." He almost shouted in triumph, he fist pumped the air. He had managed to stabilise the signal and worked quickly to download the information for grumpy, as he mentally called the new medic.

"There—done." He sent it to Plug.

"Thanks lad." He heard Plug say, he was still studying some reports. He never seemed to rest. Despite him being grumpy Splicer trusted him as a medic and brother; he had looked after the Boss.

Splicer entered some more site addresses, the signal was stable, so he might as well make use of it. He could find out what was happening on Coruscant. He searched for his favourite late night show—The Holonet Tonight Show. He clicked on the latest episode and smiled as he recognised the musical introduction and the announcer's voice stating in that sing song manner who was on tonight.

"Hela?" He whispered. He thought he had misheard. He remembered going to her Apartment and everyone knew she was The Boss's girl; that phrase had a good ring about it. He had never seen her on this programme before. It looked like it was a 'Special'.

He watched intently, it was her; she was dressed very differently to when he saw her. The host was asking some very impertinent questions about her relationship with the Chancellor; he hadn't realised she was close to their Commander in Chief.

He normally liked the questioning trying to catch people out. One Senator had even swore at Jymii and walked off, dragging his mic with him but this was Hela, he knew her, if only by association. She looked very uncomfortable at some of the questions, just for a split second, then she regained her composure but as a clone he could see that split second of discomfort.

He couldn't believe what he saw next.

"LT you need to see this."

"See what?" Tank demanded he was looking at his own datapad with his own interests.

"It's Hela. She's on the Holonet with someone."

Tank almost banged his head on the top bunk, as he got out and was next to Splicer in seconds.

"Show me!" Tank demanded.

Splicer handed him the datapad, with the excerpt from the show; this had gone galactic.

More heads leaned over to look at the images.

"Are you sure this is the Commander's girl?" Asked Decs; he had never seen her.

"Shush!" Muttered Hex, "we're listening." a gaggle of heads were now gathered over the datapad.

"She didn't like that question asking what she knew about the Chancellors tactics."

"Or where the Clone armies were."

"She didn't answer."

"Good for her."

"Why would they ask her that?" Asked Decs, confused.

"I'll tell you later." Muttered Tank.

Decs stared at her.

"Is that what's on our gunships?" He asked, pointing to her locket, with a blue flower encased in some clear material.

"Yep." Confirmed Hex, "Blue Plom Bloom."

It meant nothing to Decs.

The squad watched more.

"They're not doing much talking now!" Decs commented, saying what everyone thought.

"Shab! She's all over him." Cursed Tank.

"They've practically admitted they're in a relationship." Splicer explained, he had listened to them talking and put two and two together making five.

"Anything interesting boys?" Mayday asked, sauntering in with his steaming caf. He had just finished trying to listen to Hela's recording and he missed her.

Splicer flicked the screen over and pushed his datapad forward.

The others went quiet.

Mayday leaned over and looked at the images on Splicers datapad. He leaned his head over to one side and then to the other and frowned.

"No!" He declared. "That's physically impossible."

"She's very flexible." Hex observed, turning the datapad around and restarting the recording. They all watched closely.

"I've told you before, the images on those Porn channels are manipulated." Mayday insisted, moving away from the men.

Plug smiled at the comments and returned to his research.

"Have you tried that position then boss?" Decs asked.

Plug snorted at the question, he also had experience now and had seen some of those images, when he was doing research and nobody's leg did that, of its own accord; he continued reading the information Splicer had sent him.

"That is none of your business." Mayday crossed his arms with that look on his face. The others backed off.

"But Boss, the only way you can say for certain is, if you've tried it. And we all know what your girl gets up to." He nudged Splicer, who glared back at him.

Hex shoved the rookie so hard, he fell off his chair.

"You do?" Asked Mayday, fixing the rookie with a stare, as he crossed his arms, "Enlighten me!"

"It's nothing Boss." Tank was in front of the rookie glaring at him, "The shiny doesn't know what he's talking about."

"Splicer?" Mayday asked, knowing something was going on here.

"Don't know what he's talking about, sir."

"Yes. You do. You downloaded it. We all saw the holo." Decs pulled himself up. "If she's your girl she shouldn't be doing that on a holo show." He pointed to the datapad playing the porn channel.

"That's not Hela." Mayday said.

"No but–" he lunged for the datapad; Splicer got there first and twisted it out of his way. The two troopers fell to the floor knocking the squad chairs out of the way and the rest of the members backed away automatically, giving them space. There were occasional disagreements in squad rooms and the troopers were normally left to get on with it and get it out of their system.

Veetch walked in to see two of his men on the floor wrestling whilst the Commander was staring at a datapad, with an expression Veetch had never seen before.

"Shab! What Osik's hit the fan now?" he asked

.

Mess Hall Freshers

Splicer and Decs were on their knees with GAR issue toothbrushes and buckets.

"And we have training after this?" asked Decs.

"If that's what The Boss says, then that's what happens."

"Why? We've done our punishment for the fight."

"Training isn't punishment."

"Yesterday felt like it was."

"That was LT. He wants us to be the best. To survive. It was something he learned in ARC training."

Decs muttered something.

"We all liked her and she looked after The Boss when he nearly lost his leg."

"Yeah bet she did."

"What they do together is none of our business."

"I don't see why I got the same punishment as you. You found the program and watched it."

"Which I was going to disrupt, to stop other people seeing it but you had to bring it to his attention. The Boss has been around a bit, you know."

"So's his girl by the look of it."

Splicer leapt at him, landing a right hook on his jaw. Decs pushed him back and they scrabbled on the wet floor trying to get a hold on each other.

"Attenshun!" Veetch stood at the door, " Get up or you're both on another charge. Training area now!"

"Sir yes sir."

The troopers scuttled out of the fresher, buckets in hand.

Veetch sighed. He had to do something about those two.

.

Mayday placed the last datapad on the pile. He was up to date now and looked around his office. Nothing else to do and Neyo would be here tomorrow; everything was ready for the handover. He was alone with his thoughts and they went to Hela.

There was a knock at the door.

"Enter!" He knew it was Veetch, he recognised the knock.

"Thought you might like to join us in some training sir, " he quickly glanced around the office cum quarters.

"Not sure the lads would want me there. I'm not very good company at the moment and I've not been around much the last few days."

"They want you there and they need you there."

"You're right. Can't sit here all day."

If he kept busy, he could stop thinking.

.

Backstage at the Galaxies Opera House

"This is Anoon." Zur finally introduced his boyfriend to Hela. She spun around to greet him smiling, a little surprised at the handsome Twi'lek standing in front of her.

"Anoon. Finally, it's so good to meet you." She held out her hand, "Although this is rushed." she glanced accusingly at Zur, "I'm on in a few minutes."

He nodded.

Zur adjusted her hair and Anoon watched him.

"He always fusses with it just before I go on." She explained

Zur leaned in, "Have you heard anything from him yet?" He whispered.

"No. Nothing. Hopefully no news is good news."

"I always have food sent to my dressing room afterwards, it saves having to push my way through the crowds, are you going to join us?"

"I would be honoured." He replied.

"Are there a lot out there?" Even though she came early, there were people already waiting, hoping to see her and Frey together.

"Stage door and front of house were packed solid again."

"It's been weeks since we did that show and they're still coming." Now she was convinced it had been a bad idea and she couldn't get hold of Mayday.

"One minute to curtain Ms Nim." Came the call.

She closed her eyes and started taking deep breaths, then walked to the wings of the stage, ready.

.

They had reached the Finale before she saw him, standing up there in the Gods; she only saw him because someone opened an Exit door letting in some light. But it was Baylan.

She spun around Frey and they completed the final number.

Finally to applause and a standing ovation they all took their bows.

She looked up in the Gods again but he had disappeared.

.

With the final traces of make up removed, her skin could breathe again; Zur pushed a Corellian brandy with warm water and spices in her hand, it helped soothe her throat. She picked up some meat, and chewed absentmindedly on it; usually she was ravenous after a performance but tonight, not so. She was worried about Mayday; he had never been away out of contact for this long before. She knew it could happen and knew he could be away for long periods but it still niggled her.

Then Baylan appearing here.

Anoon nudged Zur, "Perhaps I shouldn't be here." He whispered, "she looks preoccupied."

"She is. The boyfriend isn't here." Zur whispered back.

"Is he usually?"

"No! He's a clone but he's been away for a while now."

"Oh. Has she had some bad news?"

"Not that I've heard."

"Ask her then."

Zur nodded.

"Hela! Are you okay?"

She looked up at Zur and realised she had been so lost in thought, she had ignored him and Anoon.

"Yes. This just takes it out of me more than just Opera. I have to remember the steps to the dances. It doesn't come natural."

"It looked very secura." Anoon said.

Hela frowned and looked to Zur.

"Skilled." He translated.

She smiled, "You're very kind but I don't feel skilled." She looked at her chrono, "Do you think the crowds have gone now?"

"Most of them." Replied Zur, "Ready to go?"

"Yes."

.

Hela's

Hela paced, she had a night off and nothing to do. Lilli was with Cara. She had tried Mayday again but couldn't get through. It had been like that for months. Zur was out again.

She picked up her com and pressed a number.

"Cara, how are you? How's Lilli?"

"She's fine." There was a pause, as if she was walking and talking, "She's got Plug colouring a Tooka she's drawn. I can't believe how good he is with her. I think he was shocked when I first told him but apparently he had a lot to do with the tiny cadets on Kamino, so he likes children. A bit confused by girls, I think, especially after Lilli interrogated him, ferociously."

Hela didn't know what to say; she knew Plug had joined Mayday but he was back already.

"Hela? Are you still there?"

"Yes. Plug's there with you now?" She tried to keep the surprise out of her voice, it came out flat.

"Yes, he's got a couple of days R and R."

"Was he injured? Did he come back alone?"

"No, of course not. He came with the rest of his team. Tell Mayday not to rush them back. I like having him here. Sorry, I'd love to chat but I have to go, bye."

Hela stared out of the large windows and watched the sky cars fly past, wondering where Mayday was and why he hadn't contacted her.

.

Cara's

Cara stared at her comlink.

"Plug? Is there something wrong with Mayday? Is he injured?"

Plug looked up from his colouring.

"You're better at staying in the lines than Hela." Lilli piped up, he smiled at her.

"No. He's gone to 79's with the others."

"I've just had Hela on. I don't think she knew you were back and Mayday hasn't been to see her? I thought they had a real thing going on there."

Plug looked uncomfortable, "You'd have to ask him."

"I'm asking you."

Plug didn't know what to say, he was just negotiating his way through this relationship. He hadn't seen the holo but knew it had caused some problem; he didn't get involved.

"Plug, has something happened?"

Cara saw from his face, he was uncomfortable.

"Splicer found a holo of her on the Holonet Tonight show. I didn't see it. It's not my business but it caused a problem and Mayday has been like Nexu with a sore head since then. Tank says he's grumpier than Commander Wolffe on a bad day."

Cara didn't know Wolffe but assumed it was bad.

"She doesn't know it's caused a problem. He hasn't been to see her. That's not fair to her. He should at least tell her that it's over, if that's what's happened." Her voice dropped to a whisper, "I know he's your superior officer but can you talk to him?"

Plug nodded.

Cara looked at the chrono, "Lilli, time for bed."

"'Night Plug." Lilli waved as she walked away with her mother.

Plug activated his com, it connected and he immediately heard the noise of 79's— laughter, music and drunken voices.

"Plug, is that you?" It was Tank, "Are you coming to join us?" He sounded happy.

"Yes and no. Is the Commander there?"

"Yeah. He's having a good time, more himself. You should come down. Unless you've got better things to do, know what I mean."

"I'm fine where I am, thank you. Can I speak to him?"

"Er, he's a bit busy at the moment."

"It's urgent."

"Okay okay, I'll get him."

Plug waited patiently.

"Plug?"

"Yes. Who's that?"

"Decs."

"Where's the Commander?"

"Not sure. We can't find him. But he'll be okay. He can take care of himself."

The connection dropped.

Plug sat and looked at his com.

"Have you got hold of him?"

"No. Not sure what's happening there."

"I'll call Hela." Cara said, picking up her com.

"If she wants me to go with her to 79's to find him. I'll go." Plug offered.

.

79's

Hela stood outside the bar. She wore a long, straight, red wig with a heavy fringe; she had given the white blonde one a rest for a while, it was too soon after the Tonight show.

"I can come in with you." Zur offered.

"I'll be fine." She pushed back the hood of her cloak.

"I'll wait for you." He shouted, as she walked into the club. She scanned the crowd but couldn't see any one she knew. It was packed and she was jostled on her way to the bar.

"Corellian brandy, warm water, Naboo spice mix, please." She ordered.

The server droid prepared it and took her credits, "Are there any from the 212th here?"

"Yes, ma'am. Over there in that corner and over there." She finally saw Mayday's men in the corner booth, taking over a whole booth, "Put all the 212th drinks for the night on my tab." She gave it her thumb print to confirm, then walked over to the group.

"Hello boys. I didn't know you were back." Hela smiled at them.

Veetch stood up as the rest fell silent.

"Hela."

"Veetch. Good to see you."

"You too."

"I was told Mayday was here. I'd like to talk to him." She tried to keep her voice calm.

"I don't think he wants to talk to you." She looked around past Veetch. It was a trooper speaking, one she hadn't seen before.

"I think the Commander can speak for himself. Don't you Veetch?"

"Yes. Let's find him." He liked Hela and wasn't sure what was happening with her and The Boss despite seeing the holo himself.

As they manoeuvred themselves through the crowds in the bar, away from the group, she realised now how close the clones in the group were, even the new one.

"In there!" Veetch pointed to the private rooms, "Not sure which one."

"Thanks Veetch!"

She pushed open the first door, "Sorry!" That definitely wasn't Mayday.

She listened at each door until she reached the end one; this sounded like Mayday but she could still be wrong. She pushed open the door slowly.

Mayday looked over the shoulder of the female nautolan, straddling his knees.

"Hela?"

"This room is taken." The surprised Nautolan declared, her green tentacles, swirling around her head, as she turned and faced Hela.

"I have to talk to him."

"No!"

Hela ignored her, "Mayday. I want to explain…."

"I think the holo explained fully."

"No it didn't, it wasn't what it looked like."

"He doesn't want to know." The Nautolan interrupted again.

"Shut up!" Hela snapped at her, not even turning around.

The Nautolan grabbed her by the shoulder and twisted her around to face her, "This is….."

Hela felt the crunch of breaking facial bones, when she punched her, "I said shut up."

She turned back to face Mayday, with the whimpering Nautolan sitting on the floor behind her.

"Hela. I know what I saw."

"Just let me explain."

"Explain what? That you've been with Frey."

"No. It was an act."

"If it was, it was a karking good one. I believed it. Was it an act with you for me?"

"No! Never."

Mayday looked away from her, at the Nautolan sitting on the floor, "I can't trust you now and I need to."

.

Hela jumped into the sky car. Zur looked quickly over at her, then her hand with the swollen and bleeding knuckles.

"Is he coming back?"

"No."

"Are you okay?"

"No."

He daren't ask any more.

.

Galaxies Opera House

Hela couldn't actually remember getting this far along the performance, it was a blur; she was on autopilot.

Zur had eventually managed to make her look presentable with the aid of chilled Bacta eye patches; she had cried so much during the night.

She had even taken a stim, she was so tired and couldn't remember sleeping for more than a few minutes at a time.

Last night's argument with Mayday was still playing through her mind; the music was there and she pulled her mind back to the present, remembering the steps, the beat. The stim was wearing off, she was slow and missed a cue, then tried to retrieve the motion and failed; she was unable to reach Frey in time for the next steps. Pain shot through her leg, as she twisted her ankle and lost her footing; unbalanced from the pain, she fell backwards, striking her head on the floor and it went black.

Baylan watched from the Gods. He stepped back into the shadows.

Frey was on his knees next to her.

"Hela! Are you okay?"

Zur rushed out from the wings, "Get a medic, a Doctor!" He shouted.

The holo curtains drew closed, stopping the audience from seeing what had happened and the ensuing chaos.

.